Avalanche Mitigation

Photo taken from: http://www.avalanchemitigationservices.com/

What is avalanche mitigation? Essentially it is when explosives are used to trigger small, frequent avalanches at scheduled times to decrease fatal, unpredictable avalanches. Mt. Alyeska (just two blocks away) frequently uses avalanche mitigation to keep the mountain safe for skiers and snowboarders. To learn more about avalanche mitigation click on this link:

http://www.avalanchemitigationservices.com/

On February 18th the mountain was closed due to an avalanche on Max (Alyeska's neighboring mountain). To see pictures click on this link and scroll down to Thursday, February 18th: http://alyeskalifties.blogspot.com/

One of these days we want to go watch avalanche mitigation from a safe distance.

HoneyBell Bliss

For Christmas Grandma Hoffman gave us a three month fruit of the month club member-ship. This month is HoneyBell oranges. They are the juiciest, tastiest oranges we have ever had. They are so juicy (and messy) that Harry And David includes a plastic bib to wear while you devour them! HoneyBells are only available for a few short weeks at the beginning of the year, so when they are in season, it's time to put on your bib and enjoy them.

Here's a picture of Brent modeling the bib and HoneyBells. Thanks Grandma Hoffman!

Ice Dam Alert!!!

Picture taken from:

http://www.neallevene.com/wp-content/gallery/set-4/strange-road-and-street-signs-14.jpg

A few weeks ago we heard a loud booming noise outside. Loud booming sounds are common here since we only live two blocks away from Mt. Alyeska where avalanche mitigation (using explosives) occurs frequently to keep the mountain safe for winter sports. We quickly realized that what we heard was not coming from the mountain. We then wondered if it was an earthquake (we get lots of earthquakes here). What had we heard and felt? Answer, an ice dam

on the roof crashing down and hitting the deck. What is an ice dam? "Like the name suggests, an ice dam is a dam made of ice along the edge of the roof line, and as most dams do, an ice dam prevents melting snow from finding its way to the gutters and downspouts. Instead, the snow melting into water finds the dam of ice and refreezes forming even more ice. Sometimes the water backs up behind the dam and will leak into the house and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas." http://www.bellseamlessgutters.com/html/ice_dams.html

The problem with ice dams is that they are unpredictable. They tend to dislodge in large chunks of ice - some have been the size of a briefcase. Since then we have had many other ice dams fall off the roof.

BEFORE & AFTER: Pictures of ice dams on the roof. Followed by pictures of fallen ice dams on the deck! Now we look up before we step outside the door. It's not a wonder why many people have falling ice signs posted on their houses, it is a real danger.

Cross Country Skiing UPDATED

Over the last few months we have taken up a

new hobby, cross-country skiing.

Initially Brent learned how to ski and then he taught me. The first time he took me out was quite an adventure! It was 14 degrees outside in the dark but we had our head lamps on and the surface of the snow was rather icy. While the soccer field that we skied around was rather flat, there were a few hills that we had to summit (or more realistically climb up, but summit sounds more adventurous). Coming back we went down a few hills. It's amazing how fast you go skiing down what appears to be a little hill when it's dark outside, the snow is icy and it's your first time out there! I fell a few times but overall it was a lot of fun and felt pretty natural. And because my first exposure to skiing was in rather challenging conditions, the next time when I went out in the daylight and warmer conditions it was much easier!

We are blessed that we can literally ski down the road from our driveway. Girdwood has over 30 miles of untracked trails. In addition, there are also groomed trails in Moose Meadows. Cross country skiing is a great form of exercise (about as strenuous as jogging) and the scenery is breath-taking. Sometimes we even see/hear dog sled teams. It's been enjoyable to learn this new skill.

Last weekend we met a couple out skiing. They indicated that they were parked near the resort but when they tried to go to their car a moose started chasing them. There's never a dull moment here, each day has its own adventure!

Blessing Of The Animals

Back in October, our church, Girdwood Chapel, held a special service to bless the animals. The blessing of the animals is in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi, who had a love for all of God's creatures. Assisi wrote the hymn, All Creatures of Our God and King. Click on this link to see the words of this famous hymn:

http://nethymnal.org/htm/a/c/acoogak.htm.

Pet owners were invited to bring their animals to receive a prayer of blessing. In previous years cats, dogs, reptiles and other small furry animals have participated. This year it was two dogs and a cat. At the time we were caring for Chase (the white fluffy cat) and Duke (the German Shepherd) so we brought both of them. In addition, Hurley (the Terrier) was also blessed.

Goofy Alaska Commercials & Stories Of The Locals

Photo taken from: http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/100409/loc_500793843.shtml

We don't watch a lot of T.V., but when we do, we are often struck by the goofy commercials here in Alaska. The other night while we were eating dinner a local casket company had a commercial on T.V. I can't say that I have seen too many casket commercials, so it was amusing and a bit disturbing.

Of all the commercials we have seen, the Mattress Ranch, definitely produces the goofiest ones. Here is the link to one of their commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICppcKiwrPw&NR=1

The Mattress Ranch Story

Six foot eight inch Ted Sadtler, the 64 year-old founder of the Mattress Ranch the goofy guy dancing in the commercials, grew up in New Jersey selling Good Humor ice cream from his dad's ice cream truck. In the 1960's he hitchhiked to Alaska and since then has had many interesting work and life experiences. The first furniture store he owned in Alaska was located in an old church and a hut in Chugiak. Eventually he left Alaska only to return in the future (a common experience among locals). He now owns the Mattress Ranch. His 8th grade education did not hold him back from becoming a successful businessman. Interestingly he developed the T.V. commercials before he developed his business. The store has several locations in Alaska including: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Soldotna and Wasilla. He also has stores in Washington state in: Port Orchard and Silverdale.

If you want to learn more about the Mattress Ranch story click here:

http://www.mattressranch.com/story.html

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/07/behind-the-goofy-ads-is-a-savvy-8212-but-soft/

Ted Sadtler's story is similar to so many Alaskan's stories. Most of the time people that live here are here because they want to be here. They decided to venture to the Last Frontier for adventure and often to blaze their own trail. Their stories are intriguing and vivid. It seems like each week we hear a new story that amazes us.

A Highway Of Beauty And Tragedy

When we drive into Anchorage we have the opportunity to drive on

one of the most scenic roads in the United States, the Seward

Highway. Click on this link to see what we see:

http://images.google.com/images?rlz=1C1GGLS_enUS349US350&sourceid=chrome&q=seward+highway+alaska&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=zw1uS-nJBIbIsQP17diyDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=5&ved=0CCYQsAQwBA

It's amazing how the view can change within a given day based on

the weather and light. There are several pull off stops along the road

where people can stand in awe of God's creation on every side. The

beauty is indescribable.

Yet, there is another side to the beauty, it's the tragedy. In 2009 11

people were killed on the highway, most of the deaths occurred

during the summer. The Turnagain Times, our local newspaper

reported that "From 1977 to 2007 there have been 68 accidents,

resulting in 89 fatalities and 218 major injuries" http://turnagaintimes.com/current%20issue/2009-0820/seward-highway.html.

This map shows the fatal and major injury crash locations along

the highway:

http://turnagaintimes.com/current%20issue/2009-08-20/SewardHWYFatalitiesMap.pdf

The top two related accident factors were: failure to keep in the

proper lane and speed related. For more information visit:

http://turnagaintimes.com/current%20issue/2009-08-20/PieGraph.pdf

We are thankful that we only need to drive this stretch of

road a few times a week.

Are You On The List?

Picture taken from: http://files.tellmewhereonearth.com/Photos%20Latest%20Travels/alaska-moosecrossingsign.JPG

In the state of Alaska there is a prestigious club that many want to be part of. It's not dependent on degrees, economic status or political influence, it all depends on if you are on the list and if you respond to the call. So what list are we referring to? Answer, the roadkill list! Apparently anyone can sign up to be on the list. You might be wondering why a roadkill list exists. Actually, it serves a few purposes:

1. The roadkill is cleared from the road in a rather timely manner, thus not obstructing traffic.

2. The roadkill provides sustenance for people on the list.

3. Charities can sign up for the meat and feed the needy.

Here's how it works...

When an animal (often moose in Alaska) is struck by a vehicle, the highway and parks departments are notified. Once they have been informed, the person on the top of the roadkill list is contacted and is given the opportunity to claim the meat. The key to staying on this list is

springing into action. Those on the list are essentially on-call. They may get called at any hour day or night and they need to be ready to respond. Peter Jenkins, author of the book, Looking for Alaska, describes the importance of commitment and follow through for those who are on the list.

"Note: if you agree to respond to a roadkill after being called, then FAIL to respond, you will be permanently removed from the roadkill list....Whoever's next on the list must adhere to the following rules: You must remove the hide, head, legs, and meat from the kill site. The gut pile is to be moved well off the roadway and, if possible, out of sight. [The gut pile is one of the brown bear's favorite snacks.] It may not be left on private property. Failure to comply could result in a citation being issued and your name will be removed from future roadkill lists" (pg. 270). In addition, the roadkill recipient is also instructed to "Save the front teeth (lower front jaw) from your moose. [A picture showed where to cut the jaw off right behind the teeth.] Bring the front teeth along with this form to Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Palmer Alaska. The state also wanted to know the sex of moose, exact location of kill site, and date of kill, and they wanted it all within ten days," (pg. 270).

Being on the roadkill list involves a high level of commitment, being a first responder and having the skill and strength to butcher animals. But the outcome is having a freezer full of meat.

References:

http://everything2.com/title/Roadkill+List

http://books.google.com/books?id=eStD1ImIXQYC&pg=PA270&lpg=PA270&dq=roadkill+in+alaska&source=bl&ots=HdPvV96olA&sig=y5FFR90Sg_eM2yS6Lf79I3nCMqA&hl=en&ei=gTRyS6iNCKbKswPG7rnPAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CB8Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=roadkill%20in%20alaska&f=false

Baked Moose Rigatoni Anyone?

One of Brent's co-workers recently gave us about two pounds of moose meat. When Brent brought it home in a vacuum sealed bag I said, "What should I do with it?" The reality of life here is that moose, salmon and other unusual types of meat are common staple foods found in the local's freezers. An example of this was when someone we know said they had just been given bear meat and wondered if anyone had a good recipe for it. The locals actually know how to cook bear! Anyway, back to the moose. We heard that moose is similar to ground beef and is supposed to be good in pasta dishes so I thought I would try making baked moose rigatoni. I started out sauteing the moose and onions only to realize that the large pieces of moose weren't quite like ground beef and they didn't break into little pieces very easily. So I removed the moose from the pan and cut it into little pieces and continued cooking the moose. After I mixed the rest of the ingredients together I baked it in the oven. The results??? It looks like baked beef rigatoni but the flavor is slightly gamy and the texture is a bit tough. Brent said he enjoyed it though :). So you may be asking, what is the nutritional information of moose? I was curious so I checked:

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 piece, cooked (yield from 1 lb raw meat, boneless) (340.0 g)3 oz (85.0 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 114 Calories from Fat 7

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 0.8g 1%

Saturated Fat 0.2g 1%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.2g

Cholesterol 66mg 22%

Sodium 59mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 0.0g 0%

Protein 24.9g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 7% Calcium 1% • Iron 20%

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• Low in saturated fat
• Low in sodium
• No sugar
• High in iron
• High in niacin
• High in phosphorus
• High in riboflavin
• High in selenium
• High in vitamin B6
• Very high in vitamin B12
• High in zinc

Bad points

• High in cholesterol

Overall, moose has many redeeming qualities, but it is high in cholesterol. The most unusual moose recipe I found was jellied moose nose. Want to try it? If you make it and send us the picture we will post it on our blog! http://www.recipezaar.com/Jellied-Moose-Nose-283337

Moose Encounters

Since being in Alaska we have seen many animals. One of the most frequent animals we see in the neighborhood after dogs (which practically outnumber people) is moose. Here are a few stories surrounding moose:

Story #1

When Liz's parents came to visit this summer we came home and there was a moose laying down in the backyard (about 50 feet away from the deck). We then spotted a second moose hidden in the tall grass. Most interestingly, they stayed in the yard for a few hours! When Liz was out walking the dog she met some French tourists staying at the nearby hostel. They asked her if the moose were our pets. She thought about saying, "yes they are and feel free to pet them," but she decided that wouldn't be a good idea.

Story #2

Last month Liz's friend, Laura, called and said there was a moose near our house. Liz then walked up the street looking for the moose. She then found these two moose laying in the neighbor's yard. She was able to get some close up pictures, while carefully maintaining a safe distance.

Story #3

A few weeks ago Liz was out walking when she spotted two legs from afar. Initially she thought it was a person, but as she got closer she realized it was a moose. As she headed towards the moose to get a picture, she saw another moose across the street. She then saw our friend John Gallup who came driving down the road, he stopped to offer her a ride to get past the moose. She declined because she was headed the other direction. As John neared the moose they ran out in the middle of the road in front of his car. He had to stop to avoid hitting the moose.

Story #4

About a week ago Brent came home to find a yearling moose just below the deck, about an arm's length away. The moose didn't notice Brent because he busy munching on vegetation. The next day the driveway had the tell-tale pellets indicating that the moose had been hanging out in the yard for quite some time.

While it is fun to get pictures of moose in the neighborhood, we do have a healthy respect for the moose. Some have said that they are more dangerous than bears because of their razor-like hooves and their tendency to charge humans. We have heard stories of people being chased by moose and hiding under cars to escape them.

Interested in learning more about moose? Click on the links for some moose facts:

http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=funfacts.moose

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/biggame/moose.php

Here is a snippet of one of Liz's favorite moose songs for kids. To hear it click on the link and scroll down to the play button for Moose In The Middle of the Road: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00346CLMM/ref=dm_mu_dp_trk4

The Twin's Birthday Party!

On Sunday, we were honored to be guests at our little friends Abigail and Bethany's 3rd Birthday party. Abigail and Bethany are Pastor Jim's youngest set of twins (they have an older set of twin sisters) and an older brother. We had a great time singing songs, eating cake and ice cream and watching the twins open presents. They had two birthday cakes, Magenta, the dog that their mom, Julie, made and a "pink" cake that Liz made for them. As you can see from their picture Abigail and Bethany know how to enjoy life (and cake and ice cream!).